The companies Power, Elgiganten, Netonnet, Macforum, Elon and Webhallen are included in the new crime prevention initiative. The background to the collaboration is the problem where fraudsters obtain bank cards from private individuals, often the elderly, in order to then purchase capital goods in stores. Electronics are particularly sought after as the products are relatively easy to resell.
Anna-Karin Kjellgren, crime coordinator at the fraud section in the West region, confirms the pattern:
If the fraudsters gain access to bank cards, we know that they repeatedly go to the electronics chains to buy goods that are easy for them to convert into criminal profits.
To make it more difficult for fraudsters to use trade to convert criminal proceeds, the affiliated stores will tighten their procedures at the checkout. The measures mean that staff may be required to request both valid identification and a physical bank card when purchasing certain goods. Customers will be informed of the working method via information stickers at the entrances and checkouts of the stores.
According to the Police, the lack of ID checks for certain purchases has previously meant that fraudsters have been able to shop for large amounts.
We have seen examples of how a person can come in and buy phones for up to SEK 100,000 at a time. Even though it is obviously not the cardholder who is in the store and wants to make the purchase, says Anna-Karin Kjellgren.
From the trade side, the initiative is described as a necessary measure to secure the store environment and clarify the working methods for employees. Tomas Löwenborg, security manager at Netonnet, explains the company's position in a press release:
This initiative is based on the Police and trade taking joint responsibility. For Netonnet, participation is about contributing to safer stores, providing employees with support in their actions and at the same time making it more difficult for fraudsters to exploit trade as a channel for crime.
The working method will initially be implemented in the Gothenburg municipality as a time-limited pilot project. If the outcome is positive, there is a possibility that the method will be rolled out on a larger scale.
This is a new way for us to work and if it has a good effect, it can hopefully become something we can expand to other areas and with other parties, says Anna-Karin Kjellgren.